The Tobin Bridge

The reason I’m giving this a five star rating is because of some fantastic views you see at night and around sunset. They now have gotten rid of the toll booth and is now all ezpass. If you don’t have cash no worries, just get a bill in the mail. And no fine will be added.

I can’t believe I am actually reviewing a bridge, but after reading the Boston Globe about all of the negative reviews, I decided that I needed to come to the Tobin’s defense. I will agree with posters that the bridge is old, the lanes are narrow, it is constantly under construction, and connects some of the most miserable roads in the Northeastern United States (The Expressway and Route 1 North).
Pluses (aka: Reasons Why I am a fan of the Tobin):
1) The view of the Boston Skyline at night from the Southbound lanes is absolutely stunning — if you can actually take time to take your eyes off the road.
2) The bridge’s cantilever truss design — compared to the Zakim, Longfellow, and Boston University Bridges, the Tobin is no looker. The reason why I find importance and beauty in the industrial 50’s design, is that it gives the important reminder of Boston’s past. When the Tobin was built, the Port of Boston was busy with pre container era cargo ships, belching out coal smoke and diesel exhaust, and the City of Boston was a major manufacturing center. Boston is seen as the cradle of American Independence and a center of Academia and the High Tech sector; but she was a major American trading center, the gateway to New England, and an early beneficiary of the Industrial Revolution. Looking at the Tobin rising above the shipyards, is an important reminder of less studied part of Boston’s past.
3) If you go through the upper level toll plaza at around ²⁵⁄₃₀ mph, you have the fun of seeing the toll plaza’s lights rapidly light up in the following order: EZ-​Pass, $ 3.00, Green — Go. It reminds me of pinball machine lighting up.
4) The Tobin takes me to and from the Kowloon (that needs no further explanation).
When it comes to the Tobin, «Yay! I’m a fan.»

Hopefully when this bridge is finally repaired it can get a five star rating, because it really does have a great view as you enter the city and the tolls aren’t *that* bad compared to other metro area tolls.
However the last few times I’ve driven over this bridge I have felt like my life was in danger simply by being on the thing. We used to drive to Maine or other points north of the city a lot and crossing the Tobin became almost a form of Russian Roulette. When will a piece fall down? Might be on your turn!
A bridge doesn’t necessarily have to be beautiful or have a great view to be a five-​star or even four-​star bridge, but it does have to at least function properly. So as a functioning bridge I’m giving it a 1 — as you can still at least drive over it, you just might panic in doing so.
Heaven forbid you get stuck in traffic on it (which happens often). If you can, try to avoid and go someway else until it is finished.

Tobin Bridge= costly traffic. Lovin’ how the construction has doubled my commute since April and it *might* stop in November but it will start up again in April 2013.
Recently they decided to change the toll collection configuration. 63% of Tobin commuters use E-​ZPass, they said. We are going to change the configuration to ease traffic, they said. Like the trolls that they are, Massdot decided to have 4 cash only lanes and TWO E-​ZPass lanes. Huh? Seems legit.

Is there ever a moment where this thing doesn’t have some sort of construction going on or some lanes closed? And man is it expensive to get on it. I’d try my best to avoid it at all cost

Boooo, hisssss. The Tobin Bridge is no one’s favorite. Currently under construction, it has upped the anty on my love/​hate relationship. I love that as a Chelsea or Charlestown resident that you only need to pay 30 cents! FastLane or EZ Pass holders pay $ 2.50 and if you’re paying cash it’s $ 3. (Check below for the directions on how to do this) I love that going south bound during rush hour, the construction has magically improved the traffic for me but northbound makes me want to jump of the bridge. The lanes seem to change weekly and all the tarping makes it feel a tad claustrophobic. The views heading into the city are quite nice as other Unilocalers have mentioned.
To get the Chelsea/​Charlestown rate for the bridge go to the Fast Lane building in East Boston. Provide them with proof of residency and registration. I provided my lease, a utility bill, my license and registration. You have to renew it annually but it’s definitely worth it!

Tobin Bridge, yes!
Ted Williams Tunnel, FTW!

The Tobin Bridge carries US-​1 over the Mystic River at Boston Harbor, connecting Boston with Chelsea to the North. Personally, I feel it is only worth taking in the Northbound (no toll) direction. Because it is operated by a wasteful, separate government agency, Massport, the tolls are exorbitant!
Although it offers spectacular views of Boston Harbor and the surrounding area, unfortunately they are obstructed by the steelwork supporting the upper deck. However, if you try, it’s possible to get a glimpse of «Old Ironsides», the USS Constitution.
The Charlestown (Boston) approaches to the Tobin Bridge used to be elevated roadways with ramps connecting to the old (pre-​Zakim) «Double Decker» I-​93 Bridge. A project called the The Central Artery North Area was completed in 1992, placing the ramps underground in what is now know as the «City Square Tunnel».
Though not as decrepit as the newer, so-​called «Big Dig» tunnels, the City Square tunnel has it’s share of crumbling concrete and sagging drainage troughs that make, …well, as Bette Davis put it, «It’s going to be a bumpy ride!»
Though Massport seems to constantly be doing work on the Tobin Bridge, the paint job still looks very bad. When stopped in traffic Northbound, you are also treated to the sight of giant piles of pigeon guano beneath certain girders that the birds must obviously favor.
Exit ramps into Chelsea are short and steep, so heavy trucks are banned from using them. The Northern end of the bridge empties onto a curving section of US-​1 where cars frequently spin-​out, especially if it’s the least bit slippery.
The Tobin Bridge was the original planned route for I-​95, before Governor Sargent cancelled further construction within Route 128 in 1978. This stopped plans for I-​95 to run through the Rumney Marsh and Lynn Woods, though you can see the remnants of «ghost ramps», still in place but never used, at Copeland Circle on US-​1 at Route 60 in Saugus.
The Tobin Bridge is an important transportation link that ought to be under the control of a unified Mass Highway department, rather than a separate patronage plagued agency like Massport.

$ 3 for one of the sweetest views of Boston you’re gonna get. I would never trip when I got stuck in traffic here.
Going North is a different story, Chelsea’s not as scenic.

This is more of an adventure ride than a bridge. The steep admission charge to enter Boston after navigating uneven curves on Route 1, followed by gaping potholes actually on the bridge.
When you feel like leaving Boston it is the highlight. Constuction on the lower level of the bridge… different month/​different side. The gaping potholes and narrow lanes make for an interesting ride. When you finally hit the uneven curve that brings you off the bridge… you feel much safer (which is irony.)
You see all those abandoned cars on the upper part of the bridge? Yea those are people who committed suicide… after deciminating their suspension on this clusterfuck of a bridge. You see all the traffic on the bridge? That’s because of people like Christina P who have an unfortunate circumstance and have to deal with shithead Mass Turnpike toll employees. I think they were born without empathy.
The only good thing about this bridge is easy access for jumping to your death or totalling your car in an insurance claim.

Let me set the stage:
Thanksgiving morning, trying to get two dogs, a bf, myself and a Thanksgiving feast to Whitman from Beverly (FAR) by 1 PM. Getting everything in the car was hard enough, the 1 hr 45 minute drive getting to the TOLLS-​awful-​realizing halfway there we had NO cash. UGhhh. I thought, not a big deal, we have a checkbook– i remember many moons ago being in the same situation on the mass pike and they accepted my check.
I pre fill everything out thinking I do not want to slow anyone down (not that anyone was moving quickly due to the horrible traffic) I get to the toll and hand the man the check. Man says-​What do you think your doing we don’t accept checks. I say-​I am sorry we just realized we had no cash. Man– Well you cant write I check! Me-​I could have sworn I did before, is there any way… Man: You haven’t been able to write checks for so long, I cant even remember, gee must be almost a year now.
Proceeds to give me a 50 dollar citation. The equivelent to me just blowing right through the fast lane.
DiK!
Happy Thanksgiving.

I love the tobin, its so nice to go over when driving home from work. The views are amazing, the traffic is usually fairly quick moving. The only dumb thing is having to pay the toll going into boston.
My favorite part of the drive is the sign from the samaritans that say «depressed? Call us bla bla «basically, dont jump.

I hate the tobin bridge more then a bad hangover, when I was in high school I wasnt sure where the shitty boston skatepark in eastie was so we took the tobin bridge over to chelsea in my very light honda accord, well it was a windy day and my not very experienced 17 – 18 year old ass was blown from the middle lane to inches from the steel rail in the right lane vowing never to cross the tobin bridge again. For years if I ever need to go to chelsea, while very rare that I find myself in chelsea, I will take 16 all the way around. Well today not paying attention leaving bunker hill I took the first right and headed straight toward my arch nemesis. An anxiety attack later and back on 16 I headed straight to a bar and had a liquid lunch today. I hate you tobin bridge I really hate you!!!